Tony Parsons Man & Dog: a Love Story

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What is it about dogs that makes us love them so deeply? Why do they become such an important part of our families, and why is losing them often so heartbreaking? In this warm, funny and deeply moving talk, bestselling author Tony Parsons explores the extraordinary bond between humans and their dogs through the story of Stan, the beloved family pet who changed his life forever.It all began when nine-year-old Jasmine begged her parents, Tony and Yuriko, for a dog. Tony was initially reluctant, and their attempts to persuade her to settle for a rabbit failed. Eventually, into their lives bounded Stan, a bandy-legged, bright red Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who would become an irreplaceable member of the family. Set against the backdrop of family life in Hampstead and daily walks across the Heath, Parsons recalls the joys, adventures and occasional disasters of life with Stan, and how a dog he had never wanted taught him some of life's most important lessons.Drawing on his acclaimed new memoir, Man & Dog: A Love Story, Parsons explores the unconditional love, loyalty and companionship that dogs offer, the happiness they bring us and the heartbreak of eventually having to say goodbye. After Stan's death, his moving newspaper tribute struck a chord with readers across the country and went viral, inspiring him to write this deeply personal account of their years together.Described by Miranda Hart as "lovely, funny and moving", Man & Dog has attracted extraordinary praise. Will Young says it had him "laughing and crying in equal measure", while psychotherapist and bestselling author Stephen Grosz describes it as "tender, modest and profound". Lee Child calls it, quite simply, "a love story".In this affectionate, humorous and touching talk, Parsons reflects on the remarkable creatures who make our lives richer, the lessons they teach us about living in the moment, and why the smallest and most ordinary experiences often turn out to be the most precious. What can the love of a dog teach us about family, friendship, loss and the things that really matter in life?Tony Parsons is one of Britain's most celebrated novelists and journalists. His international bestseller Man and Boy sold millions of copies, won the British Book of the Year award and established him as a leading voice in contemporary British fiction. His books have been translated into more than forty languages. Beginning his career as a journalist at the New Musical Express during the punk revolution, he went on to become a prominent newspaper columnist and bestselling author, including of the Max Wolfe crime thrillers. His first Max Wolfe novel, The Murder Bag, topped the Sunday Times bestseller list. His latest memoir, Man & Dog: A Love Story, published by DK in September 2026, returns to the themes of love, family and loss that have made his writing so popular.A Q&A session will follow.